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Boffins Unveil's Fat-Eating Undies
Japanese shoppers can now shed the pounds without counting the calories or working out down the gym after an apparel firm launched a new range of fat-burning underwear.
Boffins at Fuji Spinning Co claim to have designed a new lingerie line laced with caffeine and seaweed that eats fat when absorbed into the skin.
Their new "Wonder Slim" fabric contains caffeine and seaweed extracts which when dissolved into the skin combine with body oils and sweat to activate fat-eating enzymes.
The company says the extracts continue to be absorbed into the body after the undies have been washed many times, although it can't promote their fat-burning effects as they are not sold as a pharmaceutical item.
The underwear is targeted at both men and women and costs between $20 and $35 but will not be sold outside Japan.
5/13
In Saudi Arabia, men determine the size of
women's underwear
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia - The Saudi woman, swathed in black with only her eyes showing, held up a lacy orange bra and asked the salesman in a whisper if he had her size.
"Did you say 36C?" the man replied, loudly enough for other customers to hear. "Are you sure you don't need a bigger size?"
"It was 36C in the past," said the woman.
"Well, the past changes," responded the salesman.
It's not the kind of exchange one might expect in Saudi Arabia, where the sexes are segregated by an unwritten but stringent code. Yet when it comes to lingerie, women often find themselves having to discuss their most intimate details with strange men.
The reason is that in most stores, only men are allowed behind the counter.
The alternative is women-only shopping centers, of which there are few, or department stores, where it's self-service but the selection is narrower.
And once outside the house, women may only be seen as shapeless forms under black cloaks called abayas. A visible hand, jeans-clad leg or strand of hair can bring trouble from the muttawa, the powerful religious police.
The subject rouses much passion among women.
"Society covers you up and the salesman strips you down," said Gihan Ramadan, an online editor for Arab News daily. "It's outrageous. Nothing could be more humiliating."
Mohammed bin Abdullah al-Hawwas wrote to the newspaper Al Watan recently about accompanying his wife to a store and seeing her "engaged in a very private conversation with a strange man about her body measurements. ... I couldn't take it and I pulled my wife out."
Jehayeir al-Muassaid, a writer who has tackled this issue in Al Riyad newspaper, was particularly incensed about a two-week book fair that women were allowed to visit on only two half-days, closely watched by muttawa agents.
The reason given was that the vendors were men, said al-Muassaid.
"What makes me livid is that it's OK for a woman to buy underwear from a man who pulls and stretches each piece to show her how it can accommodate a certain body part and then rubs it to show her how she can wash out stains, but it's not OK for her to buy from a man a book that would enrich her as a person," she added. "What kind of logic is that?"
The same logic, apparently, allows lingerie store windows to display full-busted mannequins in skimpy underwear and sheer nightgowns.
On a recent morning, a muttawa agent bawled out a reporter at a mall for not wearing a head cover. Walking behind her he delivered a tirade interspersed with verses from the Quran, Islam's holy book. "Stop the defiance! Don't come to the souq uncovered!" he barked as he strode past a lingerie store displaying a blown-up picture of a denim bra and a mannequin dressed in a dark pink thong and matching skimpy nightgown.
CBS, which will air a Victoria's Secret lingerie fashion
show next month, says it is also looking at the idea of a Victoria's
Secret swimsuit special featuring that company's signature clothes.
A CBS spokeswoman said the network had talked with Limited Brands Inc. about the idea of such a show and was open to airing it. A spokeswoman for Limited Brands was not immediately available for comment.
This year's Victoria's Secret lingerie show is scheduled for Nov. 20 at 10 p.m., and CBS is promoting it as a major special during "sweeps," the periods where advertising rates are set based on network ratings.
Models are shown during the lingerie show on Nov. 13, 2001.
6/24
The Family Tree.
Tipper Gore, an amateur genealogical researcher, discovered that her
husband's great-great uncle, Chadsworth Gore, a fellow lacking in
character, was hanged for horse stealing and train robbery in Tennessee
back in 1889.
The only known photograph of Chadsworth Gore shows him standing on the
gallows. On the back of the picture is this inscription: "Chadsworth
Gore; horse thief, sent to Tennessee Prison 1885, escaped 1887, robbed the
Tennessee Flyer six times. Caught by Pinkerton detectives, convicted and
hanged in 1889."
After letting Al Gore and his staff of professional image consultants
peruse the findings, they decided to crop Chadsworth's picture, scan it in
as an enlarged image, and edit it with image processing software so that
the biographical sketch was sent to the Associated Press as follows:
"Chadsworth Gore was a famous rancher in early Tennessee
history.
His business empire grew to include acquisition of valuable equestrian
assets and intimate dealings with the Tennessee railroad... Beginning in
1883, he devoted several years to service at a government facility,
finally taking leave to resume his dealings with the railroad. "In
1887, he was a key player in a vital investigation run by the renowned
Pinkerton Detective Agency. In 1889, Chadsworth Gore passed away during an
important civic function held in his honor when the platform upon which he
was standing collapsed."
And thus passed the very first "hanging Chad."
Author unknown.......
Chinese visitors watch a model at a lingerie fashion show
in Beijing October 18, 2002. Attitudes towards sex in China are perceived
to be changing rapidly with a growing permissiveness and openness about
sex.
Guilford Emerges From Chapter 11
Leading fabric maker Guilford Mills Inc on Friday revealed it has emerged from bankruptcy protection.
The North Carolina-based company said it now has senior debt of around $145 million compared to $270m when it filed for Chapter 11 in March.
VF Corp Earnings Jump 25 Percent
GREENSBORO, N.C.- VF Corp. (NYSE:VFC - news) on Thursday posted a 25-percent rise in third-quarter profit, as the world's largest jeans maker benefited from low inventory and reduced markdowns.
The maker of Lee and Wrangler jeans, as well as Vanity Fair lingerie and North Face outerwear, reported earnings of $128.6 million, or $1.15 per share, compared with $103.2 million, or 90 cents per share, a year ago.
Net sales were about flat at $1.40 billion compared to $1.41 billion a year earlier.
7/12
Earn extra $$ Cover a Major
Lingerie Show for this
Newsletter. Need a Digital Camera & Computer. Contact
me.
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reach over 7,600 Lingerie
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The McPete
Sez Mail Bag
From our Readers
To our Readers
For our Readers
Inquiry's:
I am trying to start my own private label
lingerie line and don't know how to find a company to produce my products.
Could you please point me in the right direction?? Many
thanks! abyounger787@cs.com
I was wondering do you know where I can find information on the lingerie industry in terms of Market Share and size especially the plus size industry.
Thank you. aadeyi@frillythings.com
Hello ... Would you please provide me a phone number and/or e-mail address
for the following designers. Thank you in advance.
Arlotta, Bosom Buddies Bodywear, Donna Lingerie.
Carrie Wilson, Proprietress, Bellona by Night
cwilson@bellonabynight.com
Hello! I'm interested in starting a intimate apparel boutique since
I've been apart of the bridal industry for more than 5 years (the poor
industry has slowed down to a minimal due to large competition). I
would like to know about the industry. How is the business?
What are the trends-flashy, Fredricks of Hollywood or delicate,
Victoria's Secret? How do you start your inventory? I mean the
whole bit, the negatives and the positives. What I see, personally,
is that the boutique I'm interested in starting is something that it
will be classy but could also be a good substitute from the Victoria's
Secret shoppers and their daughters with creative displays. What do
you think? Everyones advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank
you! Andrea rocklover36@hotmail.com
If
you have the answer.....Give
it"
If
you have something to say..
"Say it".
If you have a question......"Ask
it"
Some of our readers will have the answer.
Remember, our readers are in the same
Industry.
Retailers, Manufacturers and Sales Representatives
Do you have any show dates for
2002
Do you have any show dates that you would like posted for
2002? if so please e-mail them to me for posting in our show
section. Thank You
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